In a remarkable feat that further solidifies his status as one of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood, LeBron James has become the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward achieved this monumental milestone on Saturday night during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
James entered the contest needing just nine points to reach the 40,000-point mark, and he wasted no time in making history.
Early in the second quarter, the 39-year-old superstar drove past Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. and scored on a spinning left-handed layup, etching his name in the record books once again.
A Milestone Beyond Compare
The significance of James’s achievement cannot be overstated. No player in the illustrious history of the NBA has ever reached the rarified air of 40,000 career points. As James himself acknowledged, “No one has ever done it.”
While the milestone may not top the list of his numerous accomplishments, which include four NBA championships and four MVP awards, James recognized its importance. “Does it mean something? Of course. Absolutely. Why wouldn’t it?” he said prior to the game.
After scoring the historic basket, James received multiple standing ovations from the Los Angeles crowd, and the Lakers organization celebrated his achievement during a subsequent timeout. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the fans by holding the game ball above his head as a tribute video played on the jumbotron.
A Remarkable Journey to Greatness
James’s journey to 40,000 points has been nothing short of remarkable. The Akron, Ohio native was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft and made an immediate impact, scoring 25 points in his debut at the tender age of 18.
From there, James’s ascent to greatness was relentless. He became the youngest player to reach 10,000 points (Feb. 27, 2008), 20,000 points (Jan. 16, 2013), and 30,000 points (Jan. 23, 2018). In February 2023, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing scoring record of 38,387 points, further cementing his legacy.
A Scoring Machine Unlike Any Other
James’s scoring prowess is unmatched in the annals of the NBA. He boasts a career scoring average of 27.1 points and reached 40,000 points in his 1,475th regular season game. Remarkably, he scored his first 10,000 points in the same number of games – 368 – as he needed to go from 30,000 points to 40,000, a testament to his unwavering consistency.
But James’s impact extends far beyond his scoring exploits. He ranks fourth all-time in assists and eighth in steals, showcasing his well-rounded brilliance on the court. As Lakers coach Darvin Ham put it, “An amazing run that continues to this day.”
While the Lakers ultimately fell to the Nuggets in the game where James reached the 40,000-point mark, the milestone itself is a testament to his enduring greatness and longevity.
As he stated himself, records are meant to be broken, but James’s scoring record could very well stand the test of time, which speaks to his unparalleled combination of skill, durability, and sheer will to dominate.
